“Cars with anti-lock brakes are less likely to skid out of control than older cars, however this does not mean they can’t skid. Poor road surfaces or surface water could lead to your car going sideways, even if you have anti-lock brakes.
Skids happen when the tyres lose their ability to grip the road surface due to harsh braking, hard acceleration, rough steering or excessive speed when changing direction.
In an emergency stop, sudden harsh braking is the most likely cause of a skid.
In the event of a skid during an emergency stop, it’s important to keep looking in the direction that you want the car to go. The basic rule is to turn the steering wheel in the same direction that the vehicle is skidding. If you concentrate on where you want the car to go, you will instinctively steer in the appropriate direction to correct the skid.
In a car with anti-lock brakes, keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal. In a car without anti-lock brakes, release the brake pressure as you steer to correct the skid and then apply pressure again rapidly using the cadence braking method.
The key points are:
– Anti-lock brakes do not prevent the car from skidding
– Skids happen when the tyres lose their ability to grip the road
– In a skid it’s important to look where you want the car to go and turn the wheel in the direction the car is skidding
– With anti-lock brakes, keep your foot on the brake pedal as you steer
– Without anti-lock brakes, pump the brake pedal to steer by applying and releasing pressure on the brake pedal repeatedly
